STRAW CONSUMING ENGINE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XI, Issue 878, 23 December 1876, Page 6

STRAW CONSUMING ENGINE.

Ow Tuesday last we paid a visit to Mr Henry Redwood's farm at Spring Creek with the view of inspecting the new Engine and Thrashing apparatus lately imported by a kind of joint-stock company of Spring Creek farmers. From one of these we learned that the movement was the consequence of an attempt made last year by certain owners of threshing machines to keep up the rates by a combination. Messrs Dodson,

Paul, Isaac Gifford and James Gane formed a counter combination and determined to send to England for apparatus of their own, believing that if they only threshed their own crops they would get their money back m three or four years. Ransomes, Sims and Head's patent Straw Consuming Engine having been recently brought under public notice they determined on giving it a trial, the cost be- j ing only .£'2s more than the ordinary kind. By the Howrah, which recently arrived m Welling-

ton, the company received the machine, and the other day it was taken to Mr Redwood's farm for tiial; that gentleman being the only possessor of stacks suitable. We found the engine hard at work, and for some time we watched its progress. The fire-box is somewhat larger than usual, and on the front is attached a flat shoot or feeding box about 3 or 4 feet long, similar to that on a chaff cutter, m which the straw was fed, and gathered up by two finger rollers, which conveyed it to the fire and it was there gradually consumed. The engine was 8-horse power, and while we stood by the steam was blowing off and the threshing machine and elevator hard at work while the dynamometer registered the pressure at 60 lbs. We may here confess that we went with a certain amount of prejudice, believing that straw could not possibly give out heat enough for the purpose, but that feeling was quickly dissipated, for we saw one or other of the bystandersfeed it from time to lime m a most leisurely manner. The amount of straw consumed is also of but small extent, not more than one-tenth the quantity produced, and an immense stack was the result, besides that consumed. In the rear of the fire box is an arrangement for slacking out the tire or ashes when necessary by a numher of small jets of water. It should be observed also that the straw being used was oaten, which is considerably lighter, than barley or wheat. There was a total absence too of any danger from fire, as little or nothing seemed to escape from the funnel, beyond alight vapor. Th* thing was really a most decided success. We gathered from our courteous conductor that the Threshing Machine and Elevator contained all the latest improvements, and as we watched the speed and facility of their work we felt a sort of contempt for the old fashioned mode of threshing with the flail, a job which generally lasted throughout the winter, iv the "good old times." There were a goodly number of visitors on the ground from the surrounding districts. All these Mr Redwond made very welcome, and they were hospitably received. Hearing that there was a fine garden on the premises we hastened to inspect it, and found its worth equal to its repute, but as we purpose paying a snecial visit some of these days to this farm, wr, shall draw our remarks to a close by stating that we never sajvsomnch and such a variety of Agricultural Machinery on one property before.